Ground /

Color Codes L1 L2 L3 Neutral

Protective Earth
Green, Green/yellow
United States White or
Black Red Blue striped or a bare copper
(common practice) Gray
wire
United States Gray or
Brown Orange Yellow Green
(alternative practice) White
Canada (mandatory) Red Black Blue White Green (or bare copper)
Canada (isolated three-phase
Orange Brown Yellow White Green
installations)
Europe and many other countries,
including UK from April 2004 Hong Brown Black Grey Blue Green/yellow striped
Kong from July 2007
Brown or Black or Black or
European Blue Green/yellow striped
black brown brown
UK until April 2006, Hong Kong until Red Yellow Blue Black Green/yellow striped
April 2009, South Africa, Malaysia (green on installations
approx. before 1970)
India Red Yellow Blue Black Green
Green/yellow striped
White(prev.
Australia and New Zealand Red Blue Black (green on very old
yellow)
installations)
Light
People's Republic of China Yellow Green Red Green/yellow striped
Blue